Bowling glove with fingertip attached ball aperture engaging pins



Aug. 1, 1967 w. .1. MILLER VE WITH FINGERTIP ATTACHED BOWLING GLO BALL APEHTURE ENGAGING PINS 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed July 27. 1964 Fig. 5

F i Q 4 4' zNVENTOR WILLIAM J. MILLER BY A TTORNEY Aug. vl, 1967 w. 1. MILLER BOWLING GLOVE WITH FINGERTIP ATTACHED BALL APERTURE ENC-AGING PINS Filed July 27, 1964 2 Sheets-Shee 2 INVENTOR. WI LLlAM J. MILLER Fig. l2

TTORNE?" United States Patent O 3,333,850 BOWLING GLOVE WITH FINGERTIP ATTACHED BALL APERTURE ENGAGIN G PINS William J. Miller, 1270 Syracuse St., Denver, Colo. 80220 Filed July 27, 1964, Ser. No. 385,365 4 Claims. (Cl. 273-54) The present invention relates to the sport of bowling and to a bowlers glove for use therein. More particularly, the invention relates to a unique glove and its use in a glove and bowling ball combination, and especially to a new and useful bowling glove construction.

The principal object of the present invention is to enable a bowler to improve his bowling consistency and accuracy and to enable that bowler -to achieve better ball control.

A further object of the invention is to reduce the strain, fatigue, wear and tear on the bowlers hand and fingers. and enable him to roll an accurate and full rolling ball with but a minimum of finger pressure and without sacrificing consistency and control.

A further object of the invention is to facilitate a bowlers handling of the bowling ball by enabling him to have a surer, natural grip thereon which is uniformly consistent so that he may concentrate on his swing and approach on the bowling alley.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a simple, inexpensive and readily manufacturable bowling glove which does not embody special extraneous propelling devices and does not require special inserts or other foreign mechanisms on the bowling ball itself.

Still a further object of the present invention is to afford to a bowler the advantages of positive support of the bowling ball and suspension of a substantial portion of the weight of the ball from the bowlers wrist.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a bowling glove having the foregoing characteristics which may be modified to fit the bowlers hand, which modifications may be carried out by means of simple adjustments on the glove itself without affecting the bowling ball.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent as the following description proceeds, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 illustrates a glove embodying the present invention, in use with a bowling ball.

FIG. 2 illustrates in further detail the glove embodying the present invention shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3. illustrates a bowling ball of the type shown in FIG. 1, having a thumb hole and four finger pin holes drilled therein for use with the glove embodying the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a detailed drawing showing the interiorpalm surface of a glove embodying the invention, and further showing means connecting the fingertips of the glove to a wrist band.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged detail view of fingertip pin devices embodied in the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a section view taken substantially in the plane 6-6 of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a cross-section view showing a pin as shown in FIG. 5 and taken substantially in the plane of line 7-7 on FIG. 2.

FIG. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the inside surface of a modified form of fingertip for a glove such as is shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 9 is a section view taken substantially n the plane of line 9-9 on FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 is a lay-out view of a wrist band as shown on the glove in FIG. 2.

FIG. l1 is a modified form of bowling glove with portions cut away embodying the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a view of the palm of the glove shown in FIG. 11.

While certain illustrative forms of the invention are shown in the drawings and will be described below in considerable detail, it should be understood that there is no intention to limit the invention to the specific forms and modifications disclosed. On the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, alternative constructions, equivalents and uses of the present invention falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.

As shown in FIG. `1 of the drawings, the present invention is embodied in a bowling glove 20 in combination with a bowling ball 21. The glove lits on the bowlers bowling hand and is secured to his wrist by means of a wrist strap 22. The glove is not provided with a thumb; rather, an opening 23 is defined in the palm 24 (FIG. 2) of the glove through which the bowlers thumb projects. The fingertips 25 of the glove are each provided with a projecting metal pin 26 adapted to engage in complementary holes 2S drilled in the bowling ball 21.

Turning to the ball, a conventional hard rubber bowling ball is drilled with a thumb hole 29 and two, three or four fingertip pin holes 28 in a pattern or configuration corresponding to that of the position of the pins 26 on theV fingertips 25 of the bowling glove 20.

While details of the glove will be described below, it may be helpful at this point to outline briefly the manner in which the glove and ball combination is used when the bowler is engaged in bowling. It should be appreciated also at this point that no extraneous or foreign devices such as bushings, clamps or the like are provided on the bowling ball. The ball is drilled in a manner substantially identical to that by which it would be drilled when the bowler uses the conventional thumb and finger holes, the only difference being the size of the holes for receiving the fingertip pins. Accordingly, there can be no objection from the proprietor of a bowling alley to the use of a ball as shown and described herein.

When in use, the glove is placed on the bowlers hand and the wrist strap 22 securely fastened to the bowlers wrist. The bowler then picks up the ball 21, places his thumb in the thumb hole 29 and places the pins 26 on the glove fingertips 25 into the corresponding holes 28 in the bowling ball. In this respect, the ball is held in the same manner as the conventional ball would be held, but with the numerous features and advantages afforded by the present invention.

The bowler then takes his place on the alley in the position to which he is accustomed. As the weight of the ball is suspended from the pins, however, the bowler need concentrate primarily on his swing and approach on the alley. It will be appreciated, moreover, that the ball is suspended from the bowlers wrist, and by utilizing a normal pendulum action, the ball can be delivered directly down the alley with a natural and easy swing.

The pins will release from the holes 28 in the ball in the same manner that the bowlers fingers would release from a conventional ball. In fact, such release is substantially facilitated by the use of the pins, thereby further enhancing the accuracy and consistency of the bowlers delivery.

Turning now to a more detailed discussion of the glove embodying the invention, one illustrative form thereof is shown in FIGS l through 7 and 10. The glove shown in these figures comprises a glove 20 having four fingers 31,

` each of which terminates in a fingertip 25. A thumb opening 23 is defined in the glove adapted to receive the bowlers thumb. The glove may be formed in any conventional manner. For example, it may be formed of two pieces, a palm piece 34 and a back piece 35. For comfort and ventilation, one or both of these pieces 34, 35 may be formed of a heavy open mesh material. The palm and back pieces may be sewed along their periphery to provide external seams 36. Alternatively, the glove may be cut from one piece so as to provide a common edge on a palm and back portion, and the portions sewed together on the remaining edges after attaching the fingertip pins 26.

The cuff of the glove comprises a wrist band 22 adapted to encircle'the users wrist and provided with one or two straps 39 and accompanying buckles 40 (FIGS. 2 and 10). The straps and buckles may be integral with the wrist band 22 or may be attached thereto by appropriate devices such as rivets 41. For purposes of the users comfort, the wrist baud Z2 is preferably somewhat larger than required to completely encircle the wrist, and slits 42 are cut in front of the buckles 40 to receive the straps 39, thereby providing for full encirclement of the bowlers wrist. As an additional support, and to enable the wrist band to be fastened tightly about the wrist, an aperture 44 may be cut therein in a position corresponding to the wrist bone of the user. When the wrist band is fastened on the bowlers wrist, the edges of the opening 44 engage the wrist bone and prevent the band 22 from slipping or twisting during bowling.

For engaging with the bowling ball in the manner described above, there is provided on the fingertip 25 of each of the fingers 31 of the glove 20 a small projecting pin 26 (FIGS. 2 and 4). It is this pin 26 on each fingertip 25 which engages in the openings 28 in the bowling ball. The pins may be mounted on the glove in any convenient manner, one illustrative form being shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. In this construction, the pins are formed as an integral part of or are securely fastened, as by welding, to an elongated plate 48. For reasons which will become apparent hereinafter, the pin is not centered directly on the plate 48, but is positioned toward one end thereof as shown in FIG. 5. At each end of the elongated plate 48, appropriate rivet holes 49 are provided for receiving rivets 50 attaching the plate 48 carrying the pin 26 to the fingertips 25 of the glove 20. It will be apparent that the plate 48 may be attached on the inside of the fingertip surface 2S of the glove, as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, with the pin projecting through an opening in the glove; or alternatively, the plate 48 may be attached to the outer surface of the glove as shown in FIGS. 2 and 7. In the latter case, a protective covering 51 of leather or other material is desirably placed over the plate 48 to prevent it from marring the surface of the bowling ball. In the former case, the straps 52 are widened at the end as shown in FIG. 8 and attached to the fingertips so as to cover the plate 48.

One important feature of the invention contemplates that the pins 26 be connected directly to the wrist band 22 and thereby provide support for the bowling ball directly from the wrist of the bowler. To this end, the rivets 50 attaching the plate 48 to the glove also serve to attach thereto a strap 52 extending between the pin 26 on each fingertip 25 of the glove and the wrist band 22. It will be appreciated that each fingertip pin 26 is connected to the wrist band by its own individual strap 52, which strap will extend from the fingertip, across the palm of the glove, to the Wrist band 22. In order to provide uniform support and to prevent the users hand from twisting on the ball, these straps 52 desirably cross each other in approximately the center of the palm. Thus, as shown in the drawings, the strap 52 extending from the first finger is positioned to run diagonally across the palm to the opposite edge of the wrist. Similarly, the strap 52 attached to the pin 26 on the fourth finger extends diagonally across the palm and attaches to the wrist band at a point adjacent to the thumb. Similarly, the middle finger pins 26 will be attached to the wrist band 22 by straps 52? which cross each other in the center of the palm. Thus, as clearly illustrated in FIG. 4, all the straps cross each other in approximately the center of the palm of the glove.

To provide for a uniform adjustment, and to assist in holding the hand in a generally cup-like position corresponding to the outer contour of the ball, the straps are adjustable so that they can be lengthened or shortened at will. For this purpose, the straps 52 are fastened to the wrist band 22 by means of appropriate adjustable buckles 54. Alternatively, other fastening means can be employed, such as snaps or ties. However, buckles have found to provide a highly satisfactory means of adjustment.

In addition to the general configuration as described, it has also been found that the bowling consistency and ball holding ability is substantially improved if the pins are located at a particular point on the fingertips. More specifically, it has been discovered that if a pin 26 is located over the second joint of the bowlers first and fourth fingers, and over the first joint of the bowlers second and third fingers, increased accuracy, consistency and, in general, improved ability is afforded to the bowler by his use of the glove and ball combination. It will thus be appreciated that by mounting the pin 2,6 toward one end of the plate 48, a single pin and plate construction may be employed, but when mounting the pin and plate on the glove, it is merely necessary to turn the plate end for end, depending upon the particular finger on which it is to be attached. This is clearly demonstrated in FIGS. 2 and 4 of the drawings.

In using a glove embodying this invention, the bowler places the glove on his hand with the thumb projecting through the thumb hole 29 and fastens the wrist strap 22 securely about his wrist. Each of the palm straps to the finger pins may be adjusted to hold the fingers in a natural and comfortable slightly curved or cupped position approximating the contour of the outer surface of the bowling ball. It will be appreciated that this position will vary depending upon the configuration of the particular bowlers hand. Of course, once the glove has been adjusted for an individual bowler, he ordinarily need not make further adjustments. Initially, by making such adjustments and rolling the ball a few times, the bowler will be readily able to arrange and adjust the glove in the position most comfortable for him.

As described above, to use the glove and ball, the user picks up the ball in the usual manner, inserts his thumb in the thumb hole in the ball, and positions each finger pin in a corresponding hole drilled in the ball. It might be noted at this point that some bowlers may prefer to use fewer than four finger pins, in which case the glove and ball can be readily modified according to the bowlers desires.

Having grasped the ball, the bowler then takes his position on the alley, and any conventional delivery to which the bowler is accustomed may be employed. For example, the bowler may hold the ball in front of him, and as he takes his initial steps toward the pins, pushes the ball forward, lets it swing down and back, and then forward to the point where it is released. Alternatively, the bowler may hold the ball with his arm swinging freely at his side in pendulum fashion. Of course, any position may be ernployed as may suit the bowler, as use of a glove embodying this invention does not require a change in bowling style. Rather, it enhances and improves the bowlers present style.

It will be appreciated that during the swing the weight of the ball is suspended entirely from the bowlers wrist, and the only force required of the bowlers fingers is a slight pressure against the face `of the ball. If the palm straps are in the proper position, this finger pressure will be automatic as the bowlers fingers will be pulled toward the surface of the ball into a generally conforming contour therearound.

A modified form of the present invention is shown in FIGS. ll and 12. In the description of this modification, reference characters similar to those used above will be employed where appli-cable with the distinguishing sufiix a. This modification is substantially similar to that described above except that complete back and palm pieces of the glove are not employed. Rather, there are provided four individual fingers 31a, each having a pin 26 attached to the tip 25a thereof. If desired, the fingers 31a for the second and third fingers of the bowler may be attached at their lower edges as shown at 33a.

In other respects, this modification is similar to that previously described. One additional feature, however, comprises a palm pad 50 which, when the glove 20a is fastened on the users hand, is positioned in front of the bowlers palm, thereby providing an increased thickness in that area which serves to take up the gap between the palm of the bowlers hand and the bowling ball. This improves the bowlers grip and control on the ball and thereby assists the bowler in achieving accuracy and control, and at the same time gives a better feel and grip on the ball. This palm pad 50 serves in addition to confine the fingertip straps connected between the pins and the wrist band and holds them in a crossed position and prevents them from becoming entangled or slipping out of place. An additional strap 51 and buckle 52 may be provided which passes around the middle of the bowlers hand, thereby holding the palm pad 50 in position, and at the same time serving as added support to position the glove on the bowlers hand.

As pointed out above, where the plate is attached to the inner surface of the fingers 31 of the glove, the strap connecting the pin and plate to the wrist band may be provided with an enlarged or widened portion 53 adapted to cover the fingertip plate. Alternatively, a separate piece of leather or other material (not shown) may be employed to the same end so that the bowlers fingers will not come into contact with the plate and are thus fully protected.

Briey summarizing the features of the invention, it will be noted that there is provided a glove-like device by means of which the entire weight of a bowling ball may be suspended from the bowlers wrist. This is accomplished by pins which engage in the ball in place of the conventional finger grip in finger holes, which pins are connected directly to the bowlers wrist by means of straps crossing over the bowlers palm. With this glove, all of the weight of the ball is suspended from the bowlers wrist, thereby relieving the bowlers fingers from carrying the weight of the ball so that support of the ball is independent of the strength of the bowlers fingers. The dangers of slight variations in the linger grip on the ball Iare thereby completely eliminated, with the result that the bowlers accuracy and consistency are substantially increased. Providing the bowler maintains a reasonably consistent swing, the invention assures that the ball will be in the same position on each delivery. The bowler thus retains full control of the ball with the same action and grip on delivery after delivery. Furthermore, it has been observed that with the present invention, a bowler can throw a natural hook which is highly consistent and affords the maximum pin action. The invention, moreover, involves no objectionable additions or modifications of the ball. Neither does it use or employ foreign materials on the ball itself. As a result, this invention is fully acceptable for use on all bowling lanes with no danger that lanes will be damaged.

I claim as my invention:

1. A bowling glove comprising a glove adapted to fit a bowlers bowling hand, fingers on said glove for receiving the bowlers fingers, a wrist band forming a cuff on said glove and adapted to be secured on a bowlers wrist, means defining an opening through said glove for receiving the bowlers thumb, means defining an opening in said Wrist band for receiving the wrist bone on said bowlers wrist, fingertip pin means fastened adjacent the tip of each finger of the glove, said pin means comprising an elongated plate afiixed to said glove finger and having a pin projecting laterally therefrom `for engaging in a corresponding aperture in a bowling ball, strap means permanently afiixed to said elongated plate for connecting each said pin means to said wrist band, means adjustably securing said strap means to said wrist band, said strap means extending diagonally across the glove palm and each crossing the other in the vicinity of the palm of the glove, and means intermediate said fingertip pin means and said wrist band for slideably holding said strap means in position, whereby when said pins and the bowlers thumb are inserted into corresponding holes in a bowling ball, the weight of said ball is sup-ported directly from the bowlers wrist and the bowlers hand is cupped around said ball in a contour corresponding to the surface thereof.

2. A bowling glove comprising a glove adapted to fit a bowlers bowling hand, lingers on said glove for receiving the bowlers fingers, a Wristband forming a cuff on said glove and adapted to be secured on a bowlers wrist, means defining an opening through said glove for receiving the bowlers thumb and means on said Wristband for preventing rotation of the same on the bowlers wrist, fingertip pin means fastened adjacent the tip of each finger of the glove, said pin means comprising an elongated plate affixed to said glove finger and having a pin projecting laterally therefrom for engaging in a corresponding aperture in a bowling ball, strap means permanently afiixed to said elongated plate for connecting each said pin means to said Wristband, means adjustably securing said strap means to said Wristband, said strap means extending diagonally across the `glove palm and each crossing the other in the vicinity of the palm of the glove, and means intermediate said fingertip pin means and said Wristband for slidably holding said strap means in position, whereby when said pins and the bowlers thumb are inserted into corresponding holes in a bowling ball, the weight of said ball is supported directly from the bowlers wrist and the bowlers hand is cupped around said ball in a contour corresponding to the surface thereof.

3. A bowling glove as defined in claim 2 wherein the means slidably holding said strap means in position includes a palm pad adapted to be positioned between the bowlers hand and said bowling ball when said fingertip pin means are engaged therewith.

4. A bowling glove as defined in claim 2 wherein the fingertip pin means on those lingers of the glove corresponding to the first and fourth fingers of the bowlers hand are positioned at a point corresponding to the second joint of the bowlers first and fourth fingers, and the fingertip pin means on those fingers of said glove corresponding to the second and third fingers of the bowlers hand ,are positioned at a point corresponding to the first ioint of the bowlers second and third fingers.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 883,761 4/1908 Taylor et al. 294-25 2,369,115 2/1945 Bloom 12S-165 X 3,098,654 7/1963 Larsen 273-54 3,123,832 3/1964 Kubik 2-161 3,208,749 9/ 1965 Skuse 273-54 3,214,167 10/ 1965 Pell 273-54 ANTON O. OECHSLE, Primary Examiner. 

2. A BOWLING GLOVE COMPRISING A GLOVE ADAPTED TO FIT A BOWLER''S BOWLING HAND, FINGERS ON SAID GLOVE FOR RECEIVING THE BOWLER''S FINGERS, A WRISTBAND FORMING A CUFF ON SAID GLOVE AND ADAPTED TO BE SECURED ON A BOWLER''S WRIST, MEANS DEFINING AN OPENING THROUGH SAID GLOVE FOR RECEIVING THE BOWLER''S THUMB AND MEANS ON SAID WRISTBAND FOR PREVENTING ROTATION OF THE SAME ON THE BOWLER''S WRIST, FINGERTIP PIN MEANS FASTENED ADJACENT THE TIP OF EACH FINGER OF THE GLOVE, SAID PIN MEANS COMPRISING AN ELONGATED PLATE AFFIXED TO SAID GLOVE FINGER AND HAVING A PIN PROJECTING LATERALLY THEREFROM FOR ENGAGING IN A CORRESPONDING APERTURE IN A BOWLING BALL, STRAP MEANS PERMANENTLY AFFIXED TO SAID ELONGATED PLATE FOR CONNECTING EACH SAID PIN MEANS TO SAID WRISTBAND, MEANS ADJUSTABLY SECURING SAID STRAP MEANS TO SAID WRISTBAND, SAID STRAP MEANS EXTENDING DIAGONALLY ACROSS THE GLOVE PALM AND EACH CROSSING THE OTHER IN THE VICINITY OF THE PALM OF THE GLOVE, AND MEANS INTERMEDIATE SAID FINGERTIP PIN MEANS AND SAID WRISTBAND FOR SLIDABLY HOLDING SAID STRAP MEANS IN POSITION, WHEREBY WHEN SAID PINS AND THE BOWLER''S THUMB ARE INSERTED INTO CORRESPONDING HOLES IN A BOWLING BALL, THE WEIGHT OF SAID BALL IS SUPPORTED DIRECTLY FROM THE BOWLER''S WRIST AND THE BOWLER''S HAND IS CUPPED AROUND SAID BALL IN A CONTOUR CORRESPONDING TO THE SURFACE THEREOF. 